Five years ago Mollie Fowell was at rock bottom and had voluntarily admitted herself into hospital suffering with mental health issues.

"I was suicidal and I had tried to take my own life several times," said the 19-year-old.

"I had a long meeting with my psychiatrist and he finally managed to make me see how my mental health was affecting those around me, so I said I'd go."

She checked into the The Priory Hospital in Birmingham.

But thanks to her hard work, perseverance and unstinting support from her teachers, Mollie has just left Thomas Alleyne's High School with fantastic A level results, scoring two distinctions and a merit in health and social care.

Mollie, who lives in Rocester, was only 14 when she went into the Priory, battling crippling feelings of worthlessness, openly admitting she took it out on her family.

Mollie Fowell admits she still has bad days but is working through her mental health problems.

"They say you take it out on the ones you love, and I was definitely doing that," she said.

Mollie suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression, and after her release from hospital had to drop several GCSE subjects, ending up taking exams in maths, English, science, rural sciences, child development and health and social care.

"My GCSE results were terrible," she said.

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"I should not have got into sixth form with those results, and I definitely wouldn't have got into college, but my teachers in the health and social care department really fought for me to be given a place.

"I can't thank them enough.

"It was really hard at times, especially because I missed so much school while I was at the Priory for three months, but the teachers in the health and social care department never gave up on me."

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Although she still has her bad days, Mollie says she will forever be grateful to her mum, dad, sister Louise and brother George for their support, as well as boyfriend Dan, 22.

"My little brother George, who is 18, has been amazing," she said.

"I've been really horrible to him in the past but now when I'm having a bad day he just comes and gives me a cuddle.

"I've been with Dan for four years and he really is fantastic.

"He even researched all about my mental health issues online to try to give me the best support he could. He's so sweet.

"I couldn't have got through the last few years without Dan and my family, and the support of everyone at school.

"They never gave up on me."

If you need help...

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.

Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.

PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.

Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information depressionalliance.org

Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org

The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029 ) helps people who are struggling to cope - experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis. You can call them between 8pm and 6am every night. There are other depression charities.

Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying. www.Bullying.co.uk

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